College Open Doors to Primary Schools to Mark International Women’s Day

Posted on the 13 March 2018

School children from across Tyneside have been given the
opportunity to discover more about careers in a range of subjects including
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), after Gateshead
College opened its doors to two of its campuses.

To mark International Women’s Day (Thursday, March 8)
Gateshead College welcomed students from Corpus Christi, Brighton Avenue,
Lingey House, St Bede and Shiremoor primary schools.

Students were given the opportunity to visit the college’s
automotive and engineering skills academy, and its Baltic campus, to learn
about STEM subjects and careers in computing, games design, construction and
the built environment, through a range of activities and talks.

Corpus Christi and Brighton Avenue pupils were invited to
the automotive and engineering skills academy and were shown the uses of
kinetic energy, using a car crash simulation as an example of how kinetic force
works.

They were then tasked with an ‘egg drop’ challenge, which
saw students build a device to house a raw egg, using various everyday
materials, including paper, straws and rubber bands.

The challenge for the students was to create a device strong
enough for the raw egg to withstand the force of the drop without breaking. The
task was designed to encourage them to think about the uses and effects of
kinetic energy.

Meanwhile, at the Baltic Campus, level three software
development students from the college were on hand to help pupils from Lingey
House, St Bede and Shiremoor in their challenge to programme robots, using
specialist computer software.

Katy Malia, automotive teacher and STEM ambassador at the
college inspired pupils after she spoke about the possibilities of careers
within STEM, giving examples of women who are leaders within the industry.

Alongside Katy, Steve Logan, project consultant for PlanBee
at the college gave the pupils an insight in to the built environment industry
and potential careers within engineering, construction, and architecture.

Katy said: “Welcoming students from various primary schools
was a great opportunity for us to showcase what STEM subjects have to offer.

“It was fantastic to see the students so engaged with the
range of activities going on. Events and activities like this play a key part
in allowing young girls to develop an interest in these subject areas.

“If we can get people interested in these areas from an
early age, in the long term it will be hugely beneficial in addressing the
skills shortages faced in these industries. I also think that activities like
this are really important in demonstrating that women can pursue and have a
successful career within STEM industries.”

Gateshead College is heavily involved in driving interest in
STEM subjects and careers. In September 2017, the organisation joined forces
with academics and industry leaders around Europe to share ideas on how to
boost the number of female students studying STEM subjects in higher and
further education.

The college also runs a Career College initiative, allowing
14-16-year olds to take part in a construction and built environment programme,
while still gaining their GCSE qualifications from school.